On Monday morning, the schools at Cedar Lane Campus, which encompass Cedar Lane Early Childhood Center, Cedar Lane Elementary School, and Alfred G. Waters Middle School, were temporarily locked down due to an unverified report of gunshots in the area, officials reported.

The Appoquinimink School District’s Superintendent, Matt Burrows, stated that the schools implemented lockdown measures as a protective step while Delaware State Police carried out a detailed check of the vicinity. This investigation included not just the Cedar Lane Campus but also the nearby MOT Charter School, as mentioned in a post on the district’s website.

Just before 9:00 AM, law enforcement determined that there was no threat, leading to the issuance of an “all clear.” With this confirmation, the lockdown procedures were lifted, and regular activities resumed.

Superintendent Burrows said that the safety of students and staff remains the district’s highest priority, stating that they “will err on the side of caution whenever reports of this nature surface.” Trained staff remained on-site throughout the incident, and communication with law enforcement was ongoing. A police presence remained in the area for an additional period as a precaution, including aerial support from a helicopter monitoring the vicinity.

First State Update delayed public reporting on the situation until 9:00, when it was confirmed by sources in law enforcement that the hold had ended and that buses were already en route back to the campus.